You are constantly worried about loosing your job due to yearly resource actions. Not having access to the pay band puts you at a disadvantage during salary negotiations. GET WHAT YOU CAN BEFORE YOU START WORKING FOR THE COMPANY.

The flexible work schedule, the good pay, and the people I work with are the primary things that keep me here. I could never go back to having set start and stop times for work; I have a child now and it's wonderful to be able to take time during the day to attend something at preschool or just not try to yank her out of bed before she's ready.

The pay is good, and I enjoy the work I'm doing for the most part. I think I'm one of the lucky ones in both regards. The people are nice overall, and I really enjoy working with the people on my team.

Cons

The only metric that management has is a billable hour. That leads to a lot of really stupid decisions, and they're losing good people left and right because of this. Another primary strategy is to get rid of as many US employees as possible (due to cost), so these people are not being replaced.

Nobody seems to care if an employee in a different country can do the job at all. They're cheaper, so they're hired. Just like in the US, some of these folks are bright and motivated -- we don't pay competitively in those countries, so you can bet you're training them up for some other company. Others are worthless, and they'll stay around for a long time, accomplishing nothing -- but management doesn't care, because they're not in the US.

Advice to Management

Focus on getting things done, not billing hours. Realize that people truly are your most valuable asset, and not a liability. Stop promoting people just because they've stuck it out long enough.

Excellent work-life balance; many employees are able to work from home.

Cons

Global resourcing is leading to feelings of low job security for US employees.

Advice to Management

The trend toward global resourcing, combined with the lack of pay increases for most IGS employees this year, is beginning to cause valuable US employees to feel that their value to the company is not being recognized and that their jobs may not be secure. Recently, some of the best employees in my area have left IGS for positions that have greater potential for growth and recognition.

Decent and comprehensive set of benefits. Ability to interact and network with bright people. A robust infrastructure for access to employee benefit and technical information.

Cons

Annual resource actions by stealth that lop off 10% - even solid and above average performers - is demoralizing. Minuscule or no salary increases. Far too much political correctness required for advancement. I have over 20 years with IBM and moral is the lowest I have ever seen it. People are in fear of keeping their job and therefore reluctant to stretch into a new assignments for fear of being the low person on the totem pole when the next RA hits.

Advice to Management

Need to be more open and candid about changes in the business, including resource actions.

Stability, work-life balance, prestige, breadth of opportunities. IBM is a well-respected company and offers excellent understanding and support of a healthy work-life balance. Working from home is rarely a problem and is popular among myself and my coworkers. As long as the work gets done, management seems to care little whether you are in the office or working from home.

Cons

Easy to get pigeon-holed and thus dissatisfied with job and unable to move on to something else. Incompetence and seeming obliviousness of upper management. "Cutting edge" Web-2.0ish projects are few and far between and are generally lacking in features and sophistication.

Advice to Management

Take more input from engineers. Make more of an effort to appeal to consumers and small businesses. Catch up with the times. I will say, however, that things seem to be improving.